COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s volleyball team takes to the road for the first time this season, traveling to College Park, Md., for the Maryland Invitational, Aug. 30-Sept. 1. Joining the Buckeyes in the tournament are Binghamton, Seton Hall and host Maryland.

RECAP: SPORTS IMPORTS DC KOEHL CLASSIC In the opening weekend of the program’s 42nd season, the Buckeyes finished 2-1 at the 2012 Sports Imports DC Koehl Classic, Aug. 24-25, in St. John Arena. Then-No. 24 Ohio State opened with a three-set sweep of Houston and Toledo before falling to then-No. 20 Oregon, 3-2.

Seniors Emily Danks and Mari Hole were named to the All-Tournament team after leading the Buckeyes offensively. Each finished the weekend with 42 kills and averaged 3.82 kills per set. Defensively, junior libero Davionna DiSalvatore led with 38 total digs and a 3.45 average, while freshman middle blocker Andrea Kacsits had solid performances at the net with 11 total blocks.

REACHING 1000 In Ohio State’s 3-0 win over Toledo, senior Emily Danks reached a major milestone in her career as the Round Rock, Texas, product recorded her 1000th kill. Danks became the 19th student-athlete to reach the milestone in Ohio State history. At the end of the weekend, Danks ranked 19th overall at Ohio State with 1,028 career kills.

MAKING RANK At the conclusion of opening weekend, Ohio State ranks in the top 10 of four statistical categories among Big Ten schools. The Buckeyes are sixth overall in hitting percentage at .295, while they rank eighth in blocks (2.27), ninth in service aces (1.18) and 10th in assists (12.82).

MOVIN’ ON UP A handful of Buckeyes have made their way into the top 10 in Ohio State career categories. Senior Emily Danks ranks second in both career service aces (182) and aces per set (.46), while classmate Mari Hole ranks fourth all-time with a 4.00 kills per set average.

Setters Taylor Sherwin and Amanda Peterson are making their places in Buckeye history as Sherwin ranks sixth overall with a 9.59 assist average and Peterson is ninth at 8.55. Peterson also ranks 10th in assists at 1,846. Senior Mariah Booth is sixth all-time with a 1.00 blocks average.

SCOUTING BINGHAMTON The meeting between Binghamton and the Buckeyes Friday will be the first for the two squads. The Bearcats enter the weekend with a 1-3 record.

The team, which ended its 2011 season with a 13-17 record, is under direction of 14-year head coach Glenn Kiriyama and returns three seniors while welcoming four freshmen. Senior Alex Roland finished last season with a total of 109 blocks and 272 kills and currently leads the squad with a 1.14 blocks average this year. Senior Iva Partaleva had a solid opening weekend, finishing with 56 kills over 14 sets played for a 4.00 average.

SCOUTING SETON HALL The Seton Hall Pirates travel to Maryland with a 2-0 record in the early season. Sophomore Stacey Manthrope leads the team with 30 kills so far this season, while her sister Shelbey paces the Pirate offense with a 9.75 assist average. Shelbey was named BIG EAST Volleyball Player of the Week on Monday after recording a triple-double (11k, 34a, 18d) in the four-set win over Appalachian State Saturday.

The series between the two schools is tied at 1-1 with the Buckeyes last win coming in 1997.

SCOUTING MARYLANDbr> Tournament host Maryland boasts a 3-0 record entering the weekend. The Terps ended the 2011 season with a 10-22 record. Under fifth-year head coach Tim Horsmon, the squad returns just two seniors and three juniors, but welcomes six freshmen.

Four Terps have recorded 20 or more kills in the early season with sophomore Ashleigh Crutcher leading the way with 28. Libero Sarah Harper has a team-best 4.45 digs average, while Adreene Elliott leads the Maryland defense at the net with a 1.18 blocks average.

Ohio State holds a 5-1 series record over Maryland. The two squads met last season during the 2011 Sports Imports Classic in Columbus and the Buckeyes earned a 3-1 victory in the match.

IN THE POLLS After dropping a five-set match to Oregon last week, the Buckeyes fell from the AVCA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll but are receiving votes. The squad is also receiving votes in the Volleyball Magazine Top 20 Coaches Poll.

The Big Ten has six teams ranked in the AVCA poll, including No. 1 Nebraska, No. 4 Penn State and No. 7 Purdue. Minnesota (16), Illinois (19) and Michigan (22) are also ranked.

BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL The Ohio State women’s volleyball team was chosen to finish sixth as voted by the Big Ten coaches, the league announced. The Buckeyes return five starters from last year’s squad that finished seventh last season with a 9-11 conference record.

Defending Big Ten Champion Nebraska was voted as the conference favorite, while Penn State and Purdue were picked to finish second and third, respectively.

Emily Danks, a senior from Round Rock, Texas, was selected to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team. Danks enters her final year at Ohio State as a 2011 All-America honorable mention and a 2011 All-Big Ten honorable mention.

UP NEXT Ohio State continues tournament play and travels to Bowling Green, Ky., for the WKU Tournament, Sept. 7-8. The Buckeyes will face nationally-ranked and in-state rival Dayton to open the tournament and follows with matches vs. IUPUI and host Western Kentucky.